After an hour, Corey and Adam head back to Adam’s for dinner. Adam invites me, but I decline the offer because nothing is getting in the way of me spending time with my girl. Especially not tonight.

Tonight is all about Ginny and me.

I can’t remember a time when I was this nervous. I’ve skated through most of my life with casual flings, but this woman means so much more to me, and I want this night to be special.

When the knock on the door comes, I have to calm myself. I’m going to worship her like the goddess she is. I’m going to show her just how much she means to me.

Because I know she will have heard otherwise.

The thought of that punches me in the gut. When I decided never to settle down it was for what I thought were all the right reasons. But putting everything that’s happened in perspective lately, what a stupid decision that was.

“Hey.” Her smile illuminates the room, and there’s something behind it I haven’t seen before.

“Hi, beautiful.” I lean over and give her a tender kiss, lingering on the lips I’ve been missing since this morning. “I’ve made dinner.” She scans my face, and I smile. “What?”

“I want you to know that someone told me today that I’d be hurt when you move on.”

My heart sinks. “Becky, by any chance?”

“How’d you guess?” A smile still plays on her lips, and she doesn’t sound upset. “I told her this was different, and that you’d changed. She didn’t believe me.”

“As long as you know. Everything that’s happened lately has taught me a lot about myself. She doesn’t know that.”

“But I do. I’ve seen it.”

My heart leaps at her faith in me. I grab hold of her hand. “Let’s go and eat. I made pasta.”

Her eyebrows twitch. “I haven’t had pasta in forever.”

“It’s even gluten-free. I made it fresh myself. The things I do for my girl.”

She laughs. “You spoil me.”

“You’re worth the effort. Mind you, I’m not exactly sure how it’s going to taste, so be prepared for anything.”

As I take a step toward the kitchen, Ginny grabs my hand. “I don’t care what anyone says, Owen. I know your heart.”

“You probably know it better than anyone else.” I squeeze her hand before continuing to the kitchen.

Her faith in me leaves me feeling better than anything has in a long time.

I’m not too sure about my pasta attempt. I frown as I chew my way through it. Ginny doesn’t complain once.

I’m a baker, not a chef.

Afterward, I clean away the dishes, and she makes herself comfortable on the couch. Nerves chew at my stomach. This is insane.

She smiles as I enter the room. That smile lights up my whole world.

“Sorry for dinner.”

Ginny laughs. “What do you mean? It was lovely.”

I shrug as I sit beside her. “I’m not sure if lovely’s the right word.”

“It was made by you. That’s what makes it special.”

I reach for her face, locking my fingers in her hair and pulling her closer. “You’re special.”

My mouth meets hers and I close my eyes as the familiarity of her kiss floods my system. I never thought I’d feel this way, and it’s corny as hell, but Ginny completes me. She’s like the other half of my soul.

We were just meant to be. I’m sure of it. Everything in my life has led me to her, and I’m not about to ignore that.

“Are you ready for bed?” I ask.

“Yes,” she whispers, and every nerve in my body stands to attention.

“Are you sure? We don’t have to. There’s no rush.” I can’t believe I’m talking myself out of sex. That is definitely not like me.

“It’s time, Owen. I’m not going to make myself wait any longer.”

My heart catches alight at her words. These past few months, while I’ve been desperately wanting to do more than just kiss her, the last thing I wanted was to apply any pressure. The thought of sinking into her makes my body ache. And now she wants me.

For the first time in my adult life, I feel woefully inadequate and wonder if I can fulfil her needs. Maybe the anticipation of this has played with my head a little too much.

“What’s brought this on?” I ask.

“I just want to be with you.”

Wrapping my arms around her waist, I look into her eyes. “You’re with me regardless. I only want to take the next step if you’re completely ready. And yeah, I know this might seem weird coming from me, but I want this thing to work with you.”

“It will.” Her smile brightens the room, and any more thoughts of delay leave my brain.

She wants me. I want her.

There’s simply nothing else left.

She shivers as I unzip her dress and run my index finger down her spine.

This is like getting the best Christmas present ever, and the anticipation is killing me.

Turning to face me, Ginny’s gaze sweeps over my face as she reaches for the hem of my T-shirt.

I’m as nervous as a teenage boy on a first date.

As she throws my shirt on the floor, I pull her into my arms.

“Owen,” she whispers.

I raise my hands to her shoulders and slide the sleeves of her dress down her arms.

“You’re so beautiful,” I say.

Her dress drops to the floor, and this time she’s got nowhere to hide as I unclip her bra.

Our lips brush, and I catch a glimpse of her perky breasts before she presses them against my chest. The feel of her skin against mine is divine, and I close my eyes as I drop kisses down her neck.

I groan at the feeling of her hands on the waistband of my jeans. Her breathing accelerates as she flips the button and unzips me.

“I need you,” she says.

Pushing my jeans down, I kick them off, laughing softly as her hands are already on the elastic of my boxers.

“Impatient?” I ask.

“Very.”

Ginny in her underwear was hot. Ginny naked is spectacular.

Nothing’s coming between us tonight.

Her eyes settle on my cock as she removes my last piece of clothing, and I smile. I’m already hard from the extensive making out session on the couch. This time I don’t have to deal with it myself, which only makes me harder.

Tonight, I’ll be with her.

She sucks in a breath as I climb into bed beside her, running my fingers from her neck, and down the side of her body. I kiss my way from her shoulder to her breast, taking the delicate pink nipple into my mouth and caressing it with my tongue. She shivers.

“You okay?” I ask.

“Just a bit nervous. I don’t know why.”

I grin. “Anticipation? It’s the same for me. I want this to be perfect for you so badly.”

“What about you?”

Pushing myself up, I lose myself in her lips for a moment. She’s so warm and familiar, but makes my heart race when I kiss her. “Being with you makes this perfect,” I whisper.

“Owen.”

I bend my neck and return my attention to her breasts. This is one night when I’m not going to be in any rush. One night when I’m not running away.

What I always thought would be the hardest thing of all is made simple because I’m in love. And as strange a feeling as that is for me, I revel in it.

Ginny sighs, but it’s a contented sigh, and she scrapes her nails over my scalp. The gentle gesture drives me on. I want her to feel everything when she’s with me, just as I feel everything right now.

I take my time, pressing kisses down her torso until I’m between her legs. When I look up and into her eyes, they’re full of emotion, and I know she’s feeling this as much as I am. There’s something special between us. There’s no denying that.

Her breath catches, and I smile. She squirms before I make contact with her clit, and her moans are barely audible when I do. But I hear them. I notice everything about her.

I play her with my tongue, her moans growing louder. Straightening up, I insert two fingers inside her. Her chest rises and falls rapidly, her breath laboured as I press as deep as I can.

“Owen,” she cries as I stroke her clit with my thumb. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. I’m never going to give her a reason to regret giving me a chance. Her eyelids flutter as she comes. She’s relaxed and as ready for me as I am for her.

I lean over and kiss her. Her body shivers underneath mine, and she grips my bicep as I pull a foil package from the box on the bedside cabinet.

I unwrap it and roll the condom on, maintaining eye contact with her. If I’m right, her nerves are gone. Written all over her face is the adoration we share for one another.

I love Ginny.

The thought overwhelms me, and makes me want her even more. Never did I think I’d feel this way, to want and need someone so much it’s filled my heart with more love than I can handle.

I’ve held nothing back from her so far, and I won’t hold back from this either.

“Are you okay?” A smile plays on her lips.

“I hope you know how much I love you.”

There. The words are said, and her smile widens.

“I love you too.” She takes a deep breath as I push into her. Any thoughts of anything else but Ginny are gone as we join for the first time. If this is what sex is like when you love someone, I want more. More with her.

Moving slowly, I keep kissing her. She’s all around me, and I don’t want to lose this feeling.

In a moment of clarity, I understand Drew and Hayley, Adam and Lily. If there was ever anyone for me, it’s Ginny, and the only regret I have is that it’s taken me so long to find her.

Now I have her, there’s no way I’ll do anything to risk this.

She’s mine.

Tension builds in my body. It’s not a new sensation, but it’s somehow different this time. Maybe it’s because I’ve just told her how I feel, and I know she feels the same way. She’s everything I never knew I wanted.

And I want this all of the time.

I pick up the pace. She moans at first, and as I drive in deeper, her expression grows more serious. “Are you okay?”

Ginny takes a deep breath. “You’re so deep.”

“Want me to ease up a bit?”

She nods.

I slow again, and focus on kissing her. Whatever it takes to make her happy, I’ll do it.

“That feels good,” she says.

Our gazes lock. She fights the urge to close her eyes, I can see it. And I lose myself in the moment, warmth washing over me as I come. “God, Ginny.”

Confusion crosses her face. “What?”

“Being with you. It’s everything.”

Tears well in her eyes.

I kiss her, rolling to her side and pulling her with me. Her skin’s so soft beneath my hands as I stroke her back and thighs. All I want is my hands on her, and she’s not complaining. The smallest of contented sighs catches in her throat, and it bewitches me.

One night of this will never be enough.

“No regrets?” I ask.

She shakes her head.

“Me either. And I want more. I know you want to move slowly, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy. You’re all I want.”

Ginny nestles in closer, draping her arm across my chest. I grasp her hand and press it to my lips.

I don’t ever want to let her go.